San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 65% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 15
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 23m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,846 mi
Best airline from SFO to ORD
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 15 min | 0.9% | 7,685 |
| American Airlines | 75% | 26 min | 1.5% | 3,197 |
| Alaska Airlines | 66% | 18 min | 0.7% | 446 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 83% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 20 min |
| Friday | 76% | 19 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to ORD delayed?
- 23% of SFO–ORD flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to ORD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 7,685 flights. 3 airlines flew SFO–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to ORD?
- The scheduled SFO–ORD flight time averages 4h 23m over 1,846 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are SFO to ORD flights cancelled?
- 1.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SFO to ORD?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 11,328 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.